Form fitting rubber boot and method of making same



2- G. 1.. VAN DINTER ET AL 1,890,890

FORM FITTING RUBBER BOOT AND METHOD or MAKING SAME Filed April 7. 1930 3 Sheets-Shut 1 D 1932 e. 1.. VAN DINTER ET AL 1,390,390

FORM FITTING RUBBER BOOT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

Filed April 7. 1930 a Sheets-Sheet 2 Z7 Z2 Z1 m %L& 446% G. L. VAN DINTER ET AL 1,890,890

FORM FITTING RUBBER BOOT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April 7. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 H u mwfwd/3602 7029122? (m/"aaofawfff/e Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES rarest orrice GEORGE L. VAN DINTER' AND CONRAD FERRETTIE, 0E1 MISHAVJAKA, INDIANA, AS

SIGNORS TO MISHAWAKA RUBBER AND \VOGLEN MAI'IUFACTURING COMPANY,'OF

MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, A CORPORATIGN CF INDIANA FORM" FITTING RUBBER IBC'OT AND METEIOD OF LIAKING SAME Application filed April 7,

I Our invention relates to high top footwear or boots of form fitting type similar to that disclosed in our application Serial No. 426,478, filed February 7, 1930, wherein the upper is provided with an expansible portion along the instep and ankle to facilitate applying and removingthe boot, and it also relates to the method of making the same.

The principal objects of our invention are :-to provide an improved boot of this type and method of constructing same; to afford expansibility by a pocketed opening or slit which is closed at both the upper and lower ends and extends along the ankle and instep portion of the boot; to insure an edge to edge or substantially abutting arrangement of the marginal portions of the boot wall along the opening or slit by joining or holding them in this manner at each end of the slit; to permit a boot of this type to be constructed in a light weight form with relatively thin Walls; to insure thorough sealing of the boot against leakage; to minimize labor and material in the construction of the boot; to associate heel and toe reinforcing with the pocket construction in a manner to afford strength and rigidity of the boot where required; to insure smooth interior and exterior surfaces and a neat, compact and comfortable structure; and in general to provide a structure and method which afi'ords a satisfactory light weight boot of form fitting type which may be readily constructed at a minimum cost.

On the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a boot constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lower part of said boot showing a modified form of fastening means;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the lining assembled on the last ready for the pocket member to be applied thereto;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the boot structure, after the pocket member has been secured upon the lining, the full length of the boot being shown, however, in this figure and with portions broken away to disclose details of the construction;

1930. Serial 11's.. 442,049;

Fig. 9 is a plan viewof the lunar shaped piece or strip of fabric which connects with the boot lining at each side of the pocket and extends over the front of the pocket, and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pocket member, taken on line 1010 of Fig. 8. Y

Referring to the drawings, we haveshown our invention in connection with a boot of knee length, although it may, of course, be used with boots of other lengths. The Wall of the boot upperll is divided atthe front to form a slit 12 which extends substantially from the toe portion" 13 upward along the instep and ankle portion of the boot to a point 14 a distance below the top thereof, thereby forming a pair of separable flaps 15 and 16 which are joined together at both ends of the slit and have the wall'portion .17 above said slit and the toe portion 18 undivided v and continuous across the front of the boot at and beyond the respective ends of the slit 12. A pocket member, shown in'Figs. 7 and 8, is secured to the boot wall under the flaps 15 and 16 to close the opening. therebetween and at the same time permit separation thereof and expansion of the ankle and instep portion of the boot for applying and removing same and said fiaps are detachably connected by suitable fastening means, as buckles '18 which are attached to tabs 19, as shown in Fig. 1, said buckles being preferably of the ladder type permitting adjustment of the connection between the flaps 15 and16. Other types offasteners may be employed such for example as snap fasteners 20 and tabs 21, as shown in Fig.2..

While certain features of our construction may nodoubt be used advantageously with other types of boots, this invention is de-' signed particularly for use in rubber boots, and the invention is accordingly shown and described in connection therewith. In making up a rubber boot with our improved an kle and instep construction, we preferably proceed in the followingmanner:

A pair of similar half sections or quarters of lining 22 and 23, which are secured to gether down the front by a tape 24, are stretched around the last 25 as shown in Fig. 3 and secured together at the back, the lower edges of said lining sections 22 and 23 being lasted over and secured to the edge of the insole in the usual manner. A heel reinforcing or stiffening member 26 of fabric is secured to the boot lining and extends around the lower part of the heel, as best shown in Fig. 3, and this assembled structure is then ready to have the pocket member applied thereto.

The pocket member is made up of front and back sections or walls 27 and 28, respectively which consist each of a layer of rubber composition substantially oval in shape, the same being arranged flat upon each other and secured together along the marginal edges to provide a thin and compact junction but a thoroughly waterproof connection.

In constructing this pocket member, the front section 27, which is oval shaped with an extension or tongue 29 at its lower end, is slitted longitudinally to provide a slit 30 which terminates at a distance from the ends of the section 27 to form a pair of flaps 27 as shown in Fig. 6 which are connected at their upper and lower ends. A pair of strips or pieces of fabric 31, substantially semi-oval shaped, are adhesively secured upon one face of this front section extending inwardly from the side edges of the section and leaving a central portion or strip 32 of the rubber composition of said section uncovered between said strips of fabric.

The front section 27 is then placed with its attached fabric strips 31 downward and the oval shaped back section 28 is. secured to the back face thereof. This back section is slightly smaller in size than the front section and has rubber adhesive applied to its marginal edge portion which is then rolled down into close adherence with the rear face of the front section 27, as indicated at 33 leaving an outer edge portion 34 of the front section projecting therearound.

After these two sections or walls have been thus combined, the interior of the pocket is talcumed through the opening 30 so as to avoid adhesion of the inner surfaces of the two sections within the pocket, during the vulcanization process. The slit 30 is then closed and the flaps 27 held in position by means of a tape or strip of fabric 35 which extends the full length of the slit and is provided with a. line of perforations over said slit, as indicated at 36, said tape being sub stantially narrower than the space between the fabrics 31 as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 10. u

The assembled and taped pocket member, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is then applied in the proper position upon the ankle and instep portion of the lining on the last, having its ack section 28 and the projecting edge 34 of the front section adhesively secured to the lining 22-23 so that the tongue 29 at the bottom ofthe pocket overlaps and is secured upon the toe portion 37of the lining,ras indicated in Fig. 4.

After the pocket structure has been secured in its proper position, a stitch wheel is run close to the edge of the pocket along each side thereof, to partially cut the lining along the lines 38, but said lines terminate at their top and bottom ends a short distance from the top and bottom ends of the pocket, substantially as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. These partially severed lines may be provided in the lining before the pocket is applied, as may appear from lines 38 in Fig. 3, but it is preferred to first mount the pocket in position on the lining and then run the cutter along the side edges of the pocket, using the latter asla guide to determine the position of the line'38 alon which the lining is to be out.

After the pocket is thus secured inplace and the lining has been partially out along.

the lines 38, a piece of fabric .39, which is substantially lunar shaped as shown in F 9 to fit more readily on the front of the last, and slightly larger than the strip 31 is laid over each strip 31 with its inner edge 39 extended inwardly beyond the inner edge of the respective strip 31 and a portion along the inner edge is cemented upon section 27, as best .indicated in Fig. 5, so as to leave a strip or portion 40 of the section of rubber composi- I tion exposed between tape 35 and pieces 39 to thereafter form a complete union with the rubber facing. The outer edge 41 of each piece of fabric 39 extends beyond the pocket member and is adhesively secured on the lin--;=,

ing 22 or 23 at the outer side of the respective partially out line 38.

A heel piece or reinforcing of fabric 42 is then adhesively secured around the heel and the lower portion of the back wall of the;

boot, with the side portion extending forwardly around the side of the boot, substantially to the point indicated'at 43 in Fig. 1.

toe covering or reinforcing 44 of fabric is then adhesively secured over the toe portion 37 of the lining and covers the tongue 29 of the pocket, said toe portion having its sides projecting rearwardly substantially to the point 45 of Figs. 1 and 4 to overlap and be secured upon the forward part of the heel;

reinforcing 42, and this fabric 44 also overlaps the lower parts of the fabric pieces 39 which overlie the pocket, as indicated by dotted line 46 in Fig. 4. A reinforcing strip of fabric 47 is adhesively secured upon the front of the lining 22-23 and extends from the top of the boot down to overlap and be secured upon the upper ends 48 of fabric pieces 39 on the pocket.

After the boot has been assembled as outlined above, the facing of rubber composition is applied over the assembled structure. This facing preferably includes right and left quarters 50 and 51 respectively, which extend down to the line 52 at the toe portion and are overlapped and united at the front above the point let at the top of slit 12,, and are also united at the rear of the boot, in the usual manner. toe facing 53 of rubber composition covers the toe portion of the boot and extends up to the line 54 with its upper edge overlapping the lower edges of the quarters 50 and 51, a bead 55 being formed with the overlapping edges of said quarters and toe portion, said bead extending along the upper end of the toe portion and across the lower end of slit 12 and flaps 15 and 16 of the boot.

The tabs with the fastening elements thereon are then adhesively secured in place on the facing, and the structure is then vulcanized on the last, after which the facing, which may have run together somewhat across the line 12 in vulcanization, is slitted along the line 12, and the tape 35 is slitted along the line of perforations 36 which facilitate the slitting along the line 12, thereby'aifording an opening into the pocket. After the boot wall and front of the pocket have been slitted along the line 12, the lining 22 is separated along the partially cut lines 38 at the sides of the pocket by manipulating and pulling on the flaps 15 nd 16 after which the boot may-be removed from the last.

While we have shown and described our invention in a preferred form, we are aware that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the principles of our invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a boot the combination of a rubber upper having an elongated rubber pocket member therein at the front, comprising front and back wall layers of rubber composition having portions along the marginal edges joined together in face to face relation around the periphery of the pocket, said front wall layer having a central longitudinal slit, the upper and lower ends of which are closed and terminate respectively below the upper end and above the lower end of the pocket, and said upper having a corresponding slit at tle front with closed upper and lower ends and having the marginal portion of the upper around said slit consolidated with a corresponding marginal portion around the slit of the pocket front wall layer.

2. In a boot the combination of a rubber upper having an elongated rubber pocket member therein at the front, said pocket member comprising front and back walls ar ranged face to face and joined together entirely around the peripheryof the'pocket, said front wall having a central longitudinal slit, the upper and lower ends of which are closed and terminate respectively below the upper end and above the lower end of the pocket, and said upper having a corresponding slit at the front with closed upper and lower ends and having the marginal portion of. the'upper around said slit consolidated with a corresponding marginal portion around the slit of the pocket front wall.

3. In a boot the combination of a rubber upper having an elongated rubber pocket member therein at the front, said pocket member comprising substantially similar oval shaped front and back wall layers of rubber composition arranged face to face and vulcanizedtogether around'the periphery of the pocket, said front wall having a central longitudinal slit the upper and lower ends of which are closed and terminate respectively below the upper end and above the lower end of the pocket, and said upper having a corresponding slit at the front with closed upper and lower ends and having the marginal portion of the upper around said slit consolidated with a corresponding marginal portion around the slit of the pocket front wall. I

l. In a'boot the combination of a rubber upper having an elongated rubber pocket member therein at the front, said pocket member having a front wall with a central longitudinal slit, the upper and lower ends of which are closed and terminate respectively below the upper end and above the lower end of the pocket, and said upper having a corresponding slit at the front with closed upper and lower ends and having the marginal portion of the upper around said slit consolidated with a corresponding marginal portion around the slit of the pocket front wall, said upper havingia toe covering overlying and consolidated with the closed end ofthe pocket member below the lower end of the slit. p

5. In a boot the combination of a rubber upper having an elongated. rubber pocket member therein at the front, said pocket member having a front wall with a central longitudinal slit, the upper and lower ends I of which are closed and terminate respectively below the upper end and above the lower end of the pocket. and said upper having a corresponding slit at the front with closed upper and lower ends and having the marginal portion of the upper around said slit consolidated with a corresponding mar.- ginal portion around the slit of the pocket front wall, and said upper having a toe covering comprising an inner layer of fabric and an outer layer of rubber both of which overlap and are consolidated with the closed lower end of the pocket below the lower end of the slit.

6. The method of making a rubber boot with expansible instep which comprises forming a fiat pocket member byplacing two substantially oval shaped layers of rubber composition in face to face relation and joining edge portions thereof entirely around the periphery of the pocket, securing the central longitudinal portion of the front layer of the pocket member throughout its length to the inner side of the rubber boot wall, then vulcanizing the assembled boot structure and after vulcanization providing a slit withl closed upper and lower ends in the portion of the wall over the central longitudinal portion of the front layer of the pocket member and with the upper and lower ends of said slit terminating respectively below the upper end and above the lower end of the pocket member and said slit opening into the interior of the pocket.

7. The method of making a rubber boot with an eXpansible instep which comprises forming a flat pocket member by arranging substantially over shaped front and back wall layers of rubber composition in face to face relation and joining the marginal portions thereof entirely around the periphery of the pocket, securing the central longitudinal portion of the front wall layer of the pocket member throughout its length to the inner side of the rubber boot wall, applying a toe covering-of rubber and fabric over the lower end of the pocket member and then vulcanizing the assembled structure and after vulcanization providing a slit with closed upper and lower ends in the portion of the boot wall over the central longitudinal portion of the front wall of the pocket member and with the upper and lower ends of said slit terminating respectively below the upper end and above the lower end of the pocket member and said slit opening into the interior of the pocket above the toe covering.

8. The method of making a rubber boot with expansible instep which comprises forming a substantially flat and oval shaped pocket member of front and back wall layers of rubber composition with corresponding opposed portions of said layers along the lateral edges and across the upper and lower ends of the pocket member adhesively united around non-adhering portions of the said front and back wall layers, then securing the central longitudinal portion of the front wall of the pocket member throughout its length r to the inner side of the rubber boot wall, then vulcanizing the assembled boot structure and after vulcanization providing a slit with closed upper and lower ends in the portion of the wall over the central longitudinal portion of the front layer of the pocket member and with the upper and lower ends of said slit terminating respectively below the upper end and above the lower end of the pocket member and said slit opening into the interior of the pocket.

9. In a rubber boot the combination of a rubber faced upper having a slit extending part way up the front, said slit having the upper end closed and spaced from the top of the boot, and an expansible pocket member under and closing said slit, said pocket member comprising front and back Walls of sheet rubber composition with corresponding opposed marginal portions thereof along their lateral edges and across their upper and lower ends vulcanized together, said sheet rubber of the front wall of the pocket member being slitted and having undivided portions thereof beyond the upper and lower ends re spectively of its slit, and portions of the pocket member along each side of said slit vulcanized to the boot upper respectively at the upper and lower ends and at the opposite sides of the slit in the boot upper.

10. In a rubber boot the combination of a rubber faced upper having a slit extending part way up the front, said slit being closed at both ends and having the closed lower end substantially at the lower extremity of the instep portion of the upper and having the closed upper end above the instep portion of the upper and spaced from the top of the boot. and an expansible substantially oval shaped pocket member under and closing said slit. said pocket member comprising front and back walls of rubber composition with corresponding opposed marginal portions thereof along the sides and at the upper and lower ends of the pocket member vulcanized together, said front wall having a longitudinal opening of slit like form the upper and lower ends of which said slit like opening terminate respectively below the upper end and above the lower end of the pocket member, and the upper and lower end portions of the pocket member beyond the ends of said slit like opening and the portions of the pocket front wall along the sides of the slit like opening being vulcanized to the boot upper respectively at the corresponding ends of and at the opposite sides of the slit in the boot upper.

GEORGE L. VAN DINTER. CONRAD FERRETTIE. 

